Boat Safaris on Lake Ihema
Boat safaris on lake ihema are in Akagera National Park because it is the ideal destination for anybody searching for the ultimate Rwanda wildlife safari. The national park has overcome a bleak history of forest damage, mismanagement, and the extinction of various animal species. Akagera National Park is now home to a varied assortment of wildlife, including the coveted Big Five. Over 500 bird species live in the park, as do 8,000 large mammals such as 22 lions, over 80 giraffes, and over 100 African elephants. The national park offers day and night animal drives, fishing, hiking, and nature walks, relaxing camping, and birding tours. Tourists to Akagera National Park can also take boat trips. Visitors may explore the lakes and nearby marshlands of the national park, as well as the wildlife that inhabits the lake waters and coastline.
Our Top Safaris
The boat safari
Exploring Akagera National Park by boat is an exciting adventure. The lake is located in the national park’s southern portion and is one of the park’s ten lakes. Lake Ihema has a surface area of around 90 square kilometers and a depth of approximately 5-7 meters. The lake’s eastern end borders Rwanda and Tanzania. The lake is fed by the famous River Kagera, which also nourishes the bulk of the lakes in the national park.
A boat safari on Lake Ihema allows you to explore the lake’s numerous biodiversity. During a boat safari on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park, visitors may see wildlife such as hippopotami and crocodiles. The lake is well known for having the largest number of hippopotamus in East Africa. Among the various bird species that may be seen are the Papyrus Gonolek, malachite kingfisher, herons, jacanas, sandpipers, raptors, and the rare shoebill stork.
Your private guide will take you to the jetty, where you will meet a Akagera National Park guide who will accompany you on the boat safari on Lake Ihema boat. Before you get on the water, the guide will give you complete safety instructions. Your guide will also carry a cooler box containing drinking water and refreshments. Lake Ihema has a high concentration of water hyacinth, which is one of the lake’s most serious hazards. Water hyacinth in the lake endangers the lives of many aquatic species and birds. The water hyacinth also affects the ease of movement of boats on the lake, as well as the water quality.
The lake is also connected to the Akagera River, as well as the majority of the marshes in Akagera National Park. The bulk of Lake Ihema boat tours are scheduled, with boat trips taking place four times a day at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. Non-scheduled boat rides are available in the national park for individuals interested in private visits.
ABOUT AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Akagera national park is 2500 square kilometers of primarily Savannah landscape in eastern Rwanda. The Kagera River, which flows along Rwanda’s eastern border with Tanzania, inspired the park’s name. The river feeds Lake Ihema and other smaller lakes in and around the park. The park retains an acacia and shrub ecosystem, as well as open grassland and a dozen marshy lakes characteristic of the African Savannah. It is rich in biodiversity and is part of a large protected wetland. When on a Rwanda safari, the only place to see the majority of the large species is Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s sole Savannah national park. Forest elephants can be found in the other parks, although they are difficult to spot. A game drive allows you to explore the park from the comfort of your safari vehicle.
Other Activities in Akagera National Park
Game Drives
Early morning game drives in Akagera National Park begin in search of leopards, hyenas, and reintroduced lions. This is because predators prefer to hunt at night or early morning, and they usually hide when the sun gets too hot. Enjoy the scenic landscape and other huge mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, and giraffes in addition to the predators. The setting and stunning blooms will give excellent picture opportunities for those who are interested. Night game drives are also conducted by park personnel. These usually last about 2 hours, beginning at 6 p.m. and ending around 8.30 p.m. You will get a torch to help you see the various nocturnal creatures. You might be able to observe leopards or lions when they hunt.
Bird Watching in Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park in Rwanda is a well-known and significant birding site. Visitors to Akagera National Park will enjoy seeing both endangered species such as the shoebill stork and the papyrus gonolek as well as more prevalent species such as weavers, egrets, and different Kingfishers. Birding excursions include game drives, nature walks with a ranger, and boat safaris on Lake Ihema. Birding on Lake Ihema allows you to view semi-aquatic species that you would not see on a Savannah grassland game drive. Overall, we suggest birding at Akagera National Park because of the variety and ease with which the species may be viewed.
Cultural sites near Akagera National Park
Experience rural life near the cattle herding settlements of Akagera National Park. Traditional cow grazing, milking, and milk storage in calabashes for preservation may be observed and/or participated in. You will have the opportunity to participate in the cooking of a meal utilizing some of the milk products’ ingredients after churning milk into various products such as classic yogurt and ghee. The locals that live around the park offer a genuine cultural experience, and it may complement their agricultural income. This eventually positively affects conservation culture as well as the park’s wild animals.
Other safari destinations in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is most renowned for mountain gorilla trekking. However, the park also offers a variety of other exciting activities. This park is part of the Virunga volcanoes, which are shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Volcanoes national park has an evergreen bamboo forest as well as grassland, wetland, and heath habitats. Mountain gorillas are the main attraction at Volcanoes National Park, and gorilla trekking is available all year. Because of the high altitude, it is often chilly, especially in the early mornings and nights; bring a light sweater for these times. The park is just two hours from Kigali in Rwanda’s northwestern region making it accessible on your Rwanda safaris.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in western Rwanda and is one of the most magnificent and pristine rain forests on the planet. It is dominated by a chain of mountains that runs south from northern Uganda and Congo, via the Rwenzori highlands, western Rwanda, and Burundi, to the beaches of Lake Tanganyika. On a clear day, Nyungwe Forest National Park provides spectacular views of Lake Kivu and, in certain cases, the Virunga mountains. The forest includes a large network of well-kept walking and hiking paths that lead to numerous waterfalls and viewing sites. Chimp trekking, bird viewing, colobus monkey trekking, and the canopy walk are the most popular activities in Nyungwe forest.
Gishwati Mukura National Park
Gishwati Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s newest National Park and was established in 2015 by combining Gishwati and Mukura forests. It is Rwanda’s smallest (34 square kilometers) and least visited national park. It is located along the Albertine Rift on the ridge that separates the Congo and Nile water catchment regions.
The park is home to a variety of primates, birds, reptiles, and tree species, including the endangered Eastern Chimpanzees. Chimpanzees coexist with golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and Blue Monkeys. The park is home to over 232 bird species, including Albertine endemics, making it one of the top spots in Rwanda for birdwatching. Due to displacement, livestock farming, and illicit mining operations, the national park area was nearly depleted prior to its gazettement in 2015. Its gazettement in 2015 has subsequently encouraged conservation and helped rebalance the ecology.
How to Get To Akagera National Park
You can travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park via Rwamagana town (entry is only through the southern gate; the northern gate is now only used for leaving), which takes about 2 hours. Those who do not want to drive the two hours can fly to the park using the services of Akagera Aviation.
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